District judge moves into semi-retirement

Nazareth's Elmo Frey Jr. will work part-time until successor named.

June 08, 2005|By Joe McDonald Of The Morning Call

After nearly 20 years as district judge in Nazareth, Elmo Frey Jr. has entered into semi-retirement and become a senior district judge.

Frey, who turned 62 in March, will spend only five days a month in the Nazareth office, which covers the borough, Bath and Stockertown, and Upper Nazareth and East Allen townships. District Judge Elizabeth A. Romig is helping cover the office in Frey's reduced role.

Frey's decision to step down from full-time duties, which became effective last week, means the $64,669-a-year position will be on the ballot in 2007.

At least one person, Northampton County Corrections Director Todd Buskirk, has expressed an interest in the job, said state Sen. Lisa M. Boscola, D-Northampton.

Boscola said Tuesday that Buskirk contacted her about a month ago. She said she told Buskirk that her office will not recommend an appointee to a district judge office "unless they go to the school and pass the education course, and we go from there."

Buskirk was unavailable for comment.

Before taking office, a district judge must take a four-week course in Chambersburg. The requirement does not apply, however, if the person is a lawyer.

Frey took office in 1986, replacing his father, who retired in 1985 and later became mayor of Nazareth.

"I'll just be filling in five days a month until somebody runs or gets appointed or whatever," Frey said. "I wanted to keep doing it, but I just don't want to be there every day anymore." Senior district judges are paid $177.66 a day.

As for his replacement, Frey said, "The only one I heard so far was [Buskirk] the warden at the prison, [but] I'm sure there will be people coming out of the woodwork."

The governor's office can nominate someone to fill the vacancy, then the name is submitted to the state Senate for a conformation vote, which requires a majority vote by the senators to pass.

The appointee serves until the next municipal election, which always is held in odd years. Whoever wins the election serves a six-year term, said Art Heinz, a spokesman for the administrative office of the Pennsylvania courts.

On Monday, the state Senate confirmed lawyer James Narlesky to fill another district judge vacancy in the county -- the seat of retired District Judge Barbara Schlegel, whose office covers part of Bethlehem and Hanover Township.